segunda-feira, 31 de janeiro de 2011

From the XIX century, we will now take a giant leap to the III century BCE, to introduce a brand new and interesting poll related to the Punic Wars!

I know for a fact that everybody has heard something about Hannibal and the gentle way he treated his soldiers and his enemies. But have you heard something about other Carthaginian generals? Or even about other Roman generals of the time, besides Scipio Africanus?

Well, now you have an incentive to pick up some history books (as I am sure you will...) in order to make a consciencious vote in this outstanding new poll!

We will consider this new poll a sucess if more than 10 votes are placed...

quinta-feira, 27 de janeiro de 2011

We bring you back to the beginnig of the XX century, where you can see what it took to transport those (now...) awkward AFV's to the front line

The Mark IV saw active service for the first time in the battle of Messines Ridge (June 1917), in West Flandres, Belgium. This was also the battle where, arguably, the most extensive mining operations were made during WWI, tottaling over 8.000 metres in length, started about one year before the actual attack.

terça-feira, 25 de janeiro de 2011

Before you guys start mumbling that I am out of my mind (and the truth is that maybe I am, mainly after knowing the results from our recent national elections...), I have to mention that my dream is related to a participation in an ACW reenactment in the USA, where all those fine musquets almost never missfire, and where you can find regiments in the field with about 1.000 guys in them, and battles with well over 10.000 participants.

And of course, I would only consider a participation on the Confederate side, since my guess is that there is where a guy can have more fun!

As our recent poll revealed, Robert E. Lee is still considered the best general around, receiving 24 votes.

In the second place we have a tie: Sherman and Jackson, with an astonishing number of 17 votes each.

In third we have Grant. By the way, who was this guy Grant? Oh, he was the guy that won the war!

However, he did not make it over 13 votes this time. Better luck next time...

Ok, now I have to chose the theme for the next "Best General" poll, and my inspiration is not very...inspired.

segunda-feira, 24 de janeiro de 2011

And now you will get to see a glimpse of some of the places where they built some good looking machines!

Here we have a sample of the factory where they buit the Comet.

The Junkers Ju 52 was so tough, that a guy could even think it came out from somewhere already in one piece.

Now we now that they had to assemble it, after all, and they did it in a factory!

I know you all think I forgot all about the little challenge I sent you in 9 January (regarding the Skyraider), didn't you? Since I know for a fact that there are hundreds of our followers out there in suspense to know the correct anwser, I chose not to make them suffer anymore and place it here now.

The "Auntie Ju" (Junkers Ju-52) was a very reliable airplane and the Luftwaffe's workhorse.

However, it's limited availability and reduced speed and capacity as a transport aircraft, proved the undoing of many strategic plans during WWII (namely during the battle of Stalingrad and the supply of the Afrika Corps).

terça-feira, 18 de janeiro de 2011

Would anyone believe that the Brigada Tripeira Blog could bring yet another brand new Series of dioramas?

Well, you can believe it all right, but it is all thanks to Carlos's outstanding work output!

For instance, JF would be too lazy to pull out something like this.

Would you believe this guy still has not painted my DBA Numidian 15 mm army?

I mean, how hard can it be to do a simple thing like that?

If this trend continues, I do not know if I can trust him enough in order to ask him to paint my new WWII Ambush Blitz 1/144 scale army, that I would like to use in the tournament sheduled to take place this year in Lisbon.

Who knows, maybe one of these days Carlos might turn the attention of his powerful brush to the ancient and medieval period or the 1/144 scale, and maybe (just maybe...) he might be so kind as to give his more lazy friends a helping hand.

By the way, I could not figure out the exact identification of the class of locomotives involved this time, that is the reason why that information is not displayed as usual.

domingo, 2 de janeiro de 2011

Portugal was the only country that used this fighter in actual combat, for recon and close ground support purposes.

(Class 11 locomotive - Portuguese Mozambique Railways)

(this and the next are repeated pics, with new angles)

The T-6, nicknamed "Harvard" in the Portuguese Air Force, was the most numerous airplane model ever in service in Portugal.

This model was originally used for training purposes, but was later was adapted to serve in close ground support situations (fitted with bombs, rockets and machine guns) and was used in every major operational theatre in Afica (Angola, Mozambique and Portuguese Guinea), where it performed well.

sábado, 1 de janeiro de 2011

Now that everyone had stepped into 2011, we wish you and your families a truly wonderful New Year, that I think we all wish will bring mostly good things.

(Armoured locomotive)

And a good thing to start the New Year with would be to reply to the challenge posted in 20 December: the guy involved was Jim Wallwork, a member of the Glider Pilot Regiment whose outstanding feat is mentioned in Stephen E. Ambrose fine book "Pegasus Bridge".